NRL: Dragons captain Ben Creagh supports axing of Jamie Soward

St George Illawarra captain Ben Creagh says Jamie Soward is still upset at being dumped to reserve grade by Dragons coach Steve Price but says the players are fully behind the decision.

Soward suffered the ignominy of playing for the Illawarra Cutters in the NSW Cup in the curtain raiser to the Dragons' win over Newcastle at Hunter Stadium last week.

The former New South Wales State of Origin five-eighth, who two years ago was part of the Blues side that won Origin II in Sydney, has again been left out of the Dragons side to face struggling North Queensland in Wollongong on Friday.

Price met the Dragons players this week and explained his reasons for axing Soward and, although Creagh has refused to divulge what they were told, he says the squad is behind their coach.

"The senior playing group and Pricey spoke earlier in the week about the reason for Sowie playing for the Cutters and we fully support them," Creagh said.

"Pricey and the support staff have the very best interests of the club at heart."

Creagh says he is unaware if reports that Soward is heading to the Super League until the end of the season are true.

But he says he would be sad to see the playmaker leave the club when he joins Penrith next season.

"I spoke to him last week and he is pretty upset, as you would be," Creagh said.

"He's been a part of our club for a long time. I am good mates with him and been through a lot with him in Origin and in the grand final win.

"It's tough for him at the moment, but he will bounce back. He's a professional and is a class player."

The Cowboys arrive in Wollongong on the back of five successive defeats and are without Blues prop James Tamou, who will serve the first game of a two-match suspension after being arrested for drink-driving.

Creagh says the 24-year-old is a big loss for the Cowboys but the return of Johnathan Thurston from injury is a concern for the home side.

"Whoever steps in for Tamou will do a good job for them and it will be a big test up the middle," he said.

"JT is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Their halves are fast and we really have to stop their quick play-the-balls."